Big Willie ... could be in line for a return to Origin this year. Source: News Limited
Blues coach Laurie Daley refuses to rule out a State of Origin comeback for old Willie Mason this year, even though he hasn't played for the Blues since 2008.
Some very good judges, including his Newcastle Knights coach Wayne Bennett, think Mason's up for it.
"He's got confidence and he'd bring energy and belief to the joint," Bennett says. "He's been there, done that and done it pretty well. He was part of the last NSW Origin team that won."
Daley admits he's seriously considering Mason as an option in the forwards or from the bench, especially if the ongoing drugs crisis leaves the Blues short.
At least a couple of Blues contenders are possibly on the 31-player list that ASADA has compiled for its investigation.
On the possibility of picking Mason, Daley says: "I'm going to see how he goes over the next month or so.
"He's a good bloke to have around the joint and he's one of the few blokes still playing who has been in a winning NSW Origin side."Mason is 32 but former Queensland coach Bennett insists age should not be part of the selection criteria.
He was in tremendous pre-season form for the Knights and had a blinder in round one against the Tigers.
"Queensland's great success has been built around older players like the Lockyers, Peteros and Steven Prices," Bennett said.
"No one looks at the birth certificates in Queensland. It's all about performance.
"If Willie's playing well, I'd make him a priority. His pre-season form was outstanding for us.
"He's not going to be intimidated by anything Queensland throw at him, that's for sure."The debate over Mason aside, the Blues team is still wide open from fullback to front-row.
Not even skipper Paul Gallen can be regarded as a certainty because of his club's drugs crisis.
Probably only Robbie Farah, James Tamou and Greg Bird could consider themselves certainties.
At fullback, Manly's Brett Stewart is the obvious favourite, but put the red pen through Josh Dugan's name after his latest indiscretion. Cronulla's Michael Gordon cannot be ruled out, either.
St George Illawarra's Brett Morris and Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne are the likely wingers but for how long can we keep ignoring the wonderful credentials of Souths flyer Nathan Merritt. Akuila Uate was exposed in defence last year and is unlikely at this stage.
In the centres, Canterbury's Josh Morris and the Roosters' Michael Jennings deserve to retain their positions but Blake Ferguson and Chris Lawrence have a month to put pressure on them.
Five-eighth is without doubt the most debatable position, particularly now Todd Carney has broken down. There is a huge push for the Bulldogs' Josh Reynolds, while the Roosters' James Maloney and Rabbitoh John Sutton need to be considered as well.
Daley is on record as saying the incumbent Mitchell Pearce is his first-choice halfback. Surely, the way he's steering Souths around the park, Adam Reynolds is well in the mix. I wouldn't be writing off Jarrod Mullen or Kurt Gidley, either.
As usual, the Blues have any number of players competing for the back-row.
Surely St George Illawarra's outstanding back-rower Trent Merrin will force his way in. He is a dynamite player.
Gallen will probably play in the front-row alongside Tamou. But youngsters like Ryan James from the Gold Coast and Andrew Fifita from the Sharks have emerged in the early rounds of the competition as potential bench players.
They will have to see off Willie Mason's claims to get there.
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